Improvement in cotton-pickers



IZ. B. SIMS.A

Improvement in Cotton-Pickers.v

lN0. 131,124. l Patented Sep. 3, 1872.

UNrrr.

ZAGHARIAH B. SIMS, OF BONHAM, TEXAS.

iMPRVEWlENT IN CQTTN-PICKERS.

Specification forming part o1" Letters Patent No. SLRQ, dated September 3, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

Be it known that I, ZAOHARIAH B. SIMS, of Bonham, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Boll Pickers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

struction of cotton-boll picker, which shall with certainty and economy gather the bolls of the cotton-plant with greater speed than can be attained by mere hand labor; and it consists in the novel construction of the detailed parts, and their combination, into a complete machine, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing, Figure l is a side view. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view, and Fig. 3 is a View of the handfrake detached from the remainder of the machine.

The same letters indicate all the figures.

A A are ordinary sled-runners, which serve to support at their rear end the platform K and upon their front half the working parts ofthe picker. While ordinarily I use these runners, I wish it understood that I do not confine myself thereto, as under certain conditions small wheels or rollers are `either preferable or can be used as well. From about the center of these runners the adjustable supports B extend upwardly. These supports take into resimilar parts in vcesses extending from the top to the bottom of the runners, and are fastened to the runners by the bolts F. As the supports are provided with a series of bolt-holes, f, it will be seen that they can be readily adjusted to any desired height. Extending across from the top of these supports is the bar I, whose ends journal in bearings furnished by the supports B B, by which it is supported. Bolted or or otherwise securelyr attached to this journaled cross-bar is the row of picker-teeth, each being composed of two pieces, C and D. They are made semicircular in crosssection with the concave side uppermost, and of suitable length and width. As before stated, each tooth is composed of two pieces, the lower or end one, D, being pointed; in the bottom of each a longitudinal slot is cut, through which theheadedboltatakes,fasteningthetwopieces and yet allowing longitudinal adjustment ofthe two parts. Into recesses or mortises in the front ends of the runners take the bars E E, one on each side, which are secured to the runners by the spring-key b of ordinary construction, the bars E being provided with several holes so as to permit of vertical adjustment. These bars are bent backward and diagonally toward the center of the machine, uniting with the cross-bar I at about its center, serving as supports for the picker-teeth. From the rear end of one of the inside teeth to the other extends the semicircular band G,

from which depend the hooks H, similar hooks also depending from the rear ends ofthe teeth at suitable distances. Upon these hooks is suspendeda bag or other receptacle for the cotton gathered. O represents the hand-rake having a handle and a crosspiece, R. From this cross-piece extend the concave teeth L, slightly smaller'than the picker-teeth C and arranged upon the rake at the same distance apart as the picker-teeth in the machine. These teeth L are rounded at their outer ends. Between these teeth are placed the plain round teeth N.

In operating the machine it is drawn along by any suitable power attached to staples e e. So drawn along, the teeth G D come in contact with the cotton-plants. An attendant standing upon the platform K manipulates the rake, pulling it back from the pivoted ends to the rear, the 4teeth taking in the concaves of the picker-teeth and preventing the plain teeth, which take between the picker-teeth, from passing beneath and stopping against the bracing and cross-pieces. By this means the bolls are severed or pulled from the plant and raked back into the bag or receptacle suspended from the hooks. shown can be adjusted; they may be even across, so as to operate at the same height; or they may form a concave or convex line, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. They may be raised or lowered at either the back or front ends.

The points as before tionate number oi'pickenteeth being added.

What I claim is- 1. The adjustable concave picker-teeth, composed ofthe two pieces C and D, united substantially as described.

2. In combination with the runners AA, or equivalents, the adjustable supports B B and E and cross-bar I, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with the adj ustable pickerteeth C D, I claim the seniicircular bar G, bag-hooks H, supports A A, platform K, uprights B B, and bar E, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

4. The rake OV composed of the head It, concave teeth L, and cleaning-teeth N, for operating in connection with the concave picker-teeth, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand. Y

ZAGHARIAII B. SIMS.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN D. Pinna, MosEs W. BLEDsonc 

